about

Forget the 50 States. Christmas is a bigger concept. As some of you may or may not know, for the past few years, as a holiday tradition, Sufjan has embarked on an extraordinary experiment to record an annual Christmas EP. It started in 2001, the year of Epiphanies, and continued onward (skipping only 2004), culminating into an odd and idiosyncratic catalog of music that has only existed in the Asthmatic Kitty archives (and on a number of file sharing sites). The recording process took place every December, for one week, usually at home, provoking collaborations with friends, roommates, and musical peers. Armed with a Reader’s Digest Christmas Songbook (and a mug of hot cider) Sufjan & friends concocted a musical fruit cake year after year, implementing every musical instrument they could find lying around the house: banjo, oboe, Casiotone, wood flute, a buzzy guitar, hand claps, sleigh bells, Hammond organ, and some tree tinsel. Did we mention sleigh bells? It doesn’t take much to capture that Creepy Christmas Feeling, does it? Recorded, mixed and mastered at home, the EPs themselves were often assembled in the kitchen, stapled together, and sent out with stickers and stamps to loved ones across the globe, year after year, with little Christmas cards that read: “Merry Christmas. You are something special. Santa Claus loves you. And so do I.” And then, one day, some of these songs showed up online. Curious little web zines and fan sites posted mp3s. People started asking questions. What is this I hear about Sufjan doing the boogey to the elf dance? Where can I get these Christmas goodies? Well, not wanting to be the Grinch, we decided to deck the halls, if you know what I mean.

But let’s back up a bit. Having an inherent aversion to the standard Christmas carol, Sufjan indulged in the project initially as an exercise to make himself “appreciate” Christmas more. It was a tough childhood, but you can’t be a Christmas Curmudgeon forever, can you? What he discovered, for better or for worse, was a fascinating canon of Yuletide hits, some emotionally rewarding, some painfully cliché. Jingle Bells. Silent Night. We Three Kings. The whole nine yards. The musical undertaking led Sufjan (and his coterie of friends) to reckon with a holiday that celebrates, above all things, the spirit of excess--Santa Claus, popcorn balls, mistletoe, and Kmart blue light specials, to name a few. What does it all add up to? A headache, a hangover, and sentimental ruminations of Baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and all those animals in the manger. Is there any other holiday that so seamlessly mixes the sacred and the profane?

Recording traditional favorites alongside unique originals, Sufjan has, over the course of five years, constructed an odd, impressive, and compelling collection of Christmas hits (and some misses) that will either warm your heart or make you throw up eggnog all over the bath mat (depending on your constitution). Asthmatic Kitty Records is preparing to release ALL of the material (newly mixed and mastered) in one generous box set, due in stores November 21, just in time for the holiday shopping craze.

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released 21 November 2006

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Sufjan StevensBrooklyn, New York

Sufjan Stevens mixes autobiography, religious fantasy, and regional history to create folk songs of grand proportions. More
recently, Sufjan released two albums in 2010: a generous EP (All Delighted People) and the full length The Age of Adz, a collection of songs partly inspired by the outsider artist Royal Robertson.Sufjan currently lives in Brooklyn, NY....more

If you seek a pillow for your head
Or a fitted sheet for Christmas bed
If you see your shadow on the snow
Is it from the baby Jesus glow?
He's going to the country

Find a tree and put in your house
Put a misletoe upon your mother's blouse
If you see woman dressed in black
Give her up a song and then ask for it back
We're going to the the country
We're going to the country
You're going to the country
We're going to the country
The country

Track Name: It’s Christmas! Let’s Be Glad!

Since it's Christmas, let's be glad
Even if your life's been bad
There are presents to be had

Take a walk out in the snow
And hear Santa's "Ho ho ho!"
He's got a million miles to go

La la la la la la ah

Sing a carol to your mom
Because she knows what's going on
And she knows if you've been bad or good

And if you get what you deserve
To be graded on the curve
Oh, you got a lot of nerve

La la la la la la ah

Since the year is almost out
Lift your hands and give a shout
There's a lot to shout about today

Since it's Christmas, let's be glad
Even if the year's been bad
There are presents to be had
A promotion for your dad

Track Name: Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun

Track Name: Put The Lights On The Tree

Put the lights on the tree
(Put them on the tree)

Put the ribbon on the wreath
(Put it on the wreath)

Call your grandma on the phone
(Call her on the phone)

If she's living all alone
(If she's all alone)

Tell her Jesus Christ is here
(Tell her He is here)

Tell her she has none to fear
(There is none to fear)

If she's crying on the phone
(Crying on the phone)

Tell her you are coming home
(You are coming home)

La la la la la la la

Track Name: I Saw Three Ships

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning
And what was in those ships all three
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three
On Christmas Day in the morning?

Mary mild and Christ were there
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
Mary mild and Christ were there
On Christmas Day in the morning
And all the bells on earth did ring
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
And all the bells on earth did ring
On Christmas Day in the morning

And all the angels in heaven did sing
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
And all the angels in heaven did sing
On Christmas Day in the morning
Then let us all rejoice again
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
Then let us all rejoice again
On Christmas Day in the morning!

Track Name: Only At Christmas Time

Only to bring you peace
Only at Christmas time
Only the King of Kings
Only what once was mine
It takes the end of time
It takes a long, long time
Only one thought of mine
Only at Christmas time

He brings us peace
He brings us joy
He brings all thoughts to destroy
(Only at Christmas time)

To brings us peace
To brings us joy
To brings all thoughts to destroy
(Only at Christmas time)

Only at Christmas time
Only a tree to climb
Only at Christmas time
If you can read the sign
Only at Christmas time
Everything lost will find
Only at Christmas time
Only at Christmas time

Track Name: Once In David's Royal City

Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed
There a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed
Mary was that mother mild
Jesus Christ her little child

He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all
And His shelter was a stable
And His cradle was a stall
With the poor, oppressed and wholly
Lived on earth our Savior holy

And our eyes
At last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love
For that child, so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above
And He leads His children along
To the place that He is gone

Track Name: What Child Is This Anyway?

What child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
"Haste, haste to bring him laud
The Babe, the Son of Mary!"
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh
Come peasant king to own Him
The King of kings, salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
Raise, raise the song on high
The Virgin sings her lullaby
"Joy, joy, for Christ is born
The Babe, the Son of Mary!"

Track Name: Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella

Bring the torch
Jeanette, Isabelle
Bring the torch
Come swiftly and run

Christ is born
Tell the folk of the village
Jesus is sleeping
In his cradle

Ah, ah
Beatiful is the mother
Ah, ah
Beatiful is her son

Hasten now
Good folk of the village
Hasten now
The Christ child to see

You will find him
Asleep in the manger
Quietly come
Whisper softly

Hush, hush
Peacefully now he slumbers
Hush, hush
Peacefully now he sleeps

Tie up your boots
Jump off the ladder
Pack up your clothes
Nothing's the matter
Mistletoe hangs
Up in the bedroom
Your sister's bangs
She cut them herself
Santa is here
Sleighbells are ringing
Twenty-one elves
They are all singing
K-Mart is closed
So is the bakery
Everyone's at home
Watching TV

Chestnuts and fire
Holly and hay
Jesus and Mary
What a great day
Evergreen tree
Covered in snow
Tower of Babel
Tower of glow
There's Aunt Marie
Hand on the fire
They give us good gifts
Like mittens and socks
Hijack a snow plow
Clear out the streets
Tell all of the neighbors
There's cookies to eat

Off the floor and give a shout
There's a lot to shout about
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's got the greatest gifts around
Away in a manger
No crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down his sweet head
The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing
The baby awakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying he makes
I love you, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle
Until morning is nigh
Be near me, Lord Jesus
I ask you to stay
Close by me forever
And love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children
In your tender care
And fit us for heaven
To live with you there

Santa Claus is coming
Hear the banjo strumming
Santa Claus is coming
Hear the banjo strumming
Santa Claus is coming
Hear the banjo strumming
Santa Claus is coming
Hear the banjo strumming
Off the floor and give a shout
There's a lot to shout about
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's got the greatest gifts around

Track Name: We Three Kings

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, morr and mountain
Following yonder Star

O, star of wonder, star of might
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to the perfect light

Born a babe on Bethlehem's plain
Gold we bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign

O, star of wonder, star of might
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to the perfect light

Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God on high

O, star of wonder, star of might
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to the perfect light

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb

O, star of wonder, star of might
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to the perfect light

Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and sacrifice
Heaven sings, "Hallelujah!"
Hallejujah!" Earth replies

O, star of wonder, star of might
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to the perfect light

Track Name: O Holy Night

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Until He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorous morn
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel's voices
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night divine, O night divine

Track Name: That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Until He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorous morn
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel's voices
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night divine, O night divine

Track Name: All the King's Horns

One mother rises
Pulling the sheets from the crib
All the disguises
Wandering stars, what she did
All the king's horns
All the kings men
Saddled and worn
Raise the dead
Holy, an infant
He came to raise up the dead

Wandering wise men
What did you bring to his bed?
Shapeless surprises
Incense to bring to the dead
Nothing is wrong
It's what she did
All the king's horns
And the king's men
Nothing is wrong
It's what she did
All the king's horns
And the king's men

Nothing is wrong
It's what she did
All the king's horns
Raise the dead
Nothing is wrong
It's what she did
All the king's horns

Track Name: The Friendly Beasts

Jesus our brother, strong and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around Him stood
Jesus our brother, strong and good

"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown
"I carried His mother up hill and down
I carried His mother to Bethlehem town"
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown

"I," said the cow, all white and red
"I gave Him my manger for His bed
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head"
"I," said the cow, all white and red

"I," said the sheep with curly horn
"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm
He wore my coat on Christmas morn"
"I," said the sheep with curly horn

"I," said the dove from the rafters high
"I cooed Him to sleep so that He would not cry
We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I"
"I," said the dove from the rafters high

Thus every beast by some good spell
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel
The gift he gave Emmanuel

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky
And stay by my side until morning is nigh

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
Close by me for ever, and love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children in your tender care
And fit us for heaven, to live with you there

Track Name: Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!

We can walk out after dark
Because it's Christmas time
Colored lights glow from the park
Because it's Christmas time
And the bells on the reindeer sled say
It's Christmas time
And the quilts on the back of the bed say
It's Christmas time

I think about how we could run away
Now that it's Christmas time
We travel in a one-horse open sleigh
Now that it's Christmas time

There's your father with his pipe
He says it's Christmas time
He might let us stay up all night
Because it's Christmas time
I might wish you all the best
Because it's Christmas time
I might kiss you on the back of your neck
Because it's Christmas time

I think about how we could run away
Now that it's Christmas time
We travel in a one-horse open sleigh
Now that it's Christmas time

Track Name: The First Noel

The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay a-keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel

And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from the country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel

This star drew nigh to the north-west
Over Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel

Then entered in those wise men three
Fell reverently upon their knee
And offered there in his presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the kind of Israel

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel

Track Name: Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)

This time of year you always disappear
You tell me not to call
You tell me not to call
And when the door is closed you're wearing different clothes
Or hiding in the paper, pretending not to hear

Inexpensive wine
I buy it all the time
You tell me take it back
You say you'll take a nap
But I can see it now
You always tell me how
I could do so much better
You said it in your letter

Did I make you cry
On Christmas day?
Did I let you down
Like every other day?
Did I make you cry
On Christmas day?
Did I let you down
On Christmas day?

The bed that isn't made
The broken window shade
The radiator's on
I loved you along
But I can see it now
You always tell me how
I could do so much better
You said it in your letter

I stay awake at night
After we have a fight
I'm writing poems about you
And they aren't very nice
I didn't mean to yell
I said I couldn't tell
I only grabbed your wrist
Or would you rather we kissed?

Did I make you cry
On Christmas day?
Did I make you cry
Like every other day?
Did I make you cry
On Christmas day?
Did I make you cry?

Track Name: Joy To The World

Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing

Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy

No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found

He rules the earth with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousnes
And wonders of his love

Track Name: Once In Royal David's City

Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed
There a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed
Mary was that mother mild
Jesus Christ her little child

He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all
And His shelter was a stable
And His cradle was a stall
With the poor, oppressed and wholly
Lived on earth our Savior holy

And our eyes
At last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love
For that child, so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above
And He leads His children along
To the place that He is gone

Track Name: Get Behind Me, Santa!

I know what you're doing to me, boy
You move so fast like a psychopathic color TV
With your Christmas bag and your jolly face
And the reindeer stomping all over the place

Take it easy, what you got to be so absurd?
You make it sound like Christmas is a four-letter word
Its a fact of life whether you like or not
So put your hands together and give it a shot

I hope that you take it to heart, boy
It's Christmas time, ain't no clowning around
And if you think you got something to prove, boy
Santa Claus is coming to town

I don't care about family and shopping malls
Candy canes or the carolers decking the halls
I don't care about what you say, Santa Claus
You're a bad brother breaking into people's garage
Jeez!

You got it wrong
Because I'm just another regular guy
Super powers and a penchant for the Yuletime
Is it a crime to give a little once in a while?
I travel around the world trying to make people smile

I know that you take it too hard, boy
It's Christmas time, ain't no clowning around
And if you think you got something to prove, boy
Santa Claus is coming to town

C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S

Christmastime, Christmastime
Christmastime
Magic of Christmas
Christmas, Christmastime
Christmastime
Have a good time!

Track Name: Christmas in July

If I miss my chance, I didn't even try
I'm not one to regret Christmas in July
If my timing is bad, like a fish on a bike
Would you let me pretend Christmas in July?

I'm not one to admit, I'm not one to fight
Maybe I was wrong, but maybe I was right
Like when I went to school
Drinking coffee at night
And I did what I did, now I do what I like

Open the champagne
Party and dancing
You'll know that sadness
Very expensive
Do what you want to
Don't even ask us
Wear it without sin
Family Damascus

Maybe it's the snow, the endless winter nights
And the winter coat, the one you never liked
But I'll take the sun and I'll take my kite
Christmas on the beach, Christmas in July
And I love my friends even if they fight Christmas in July
Just to keep them quiet
And I love you too, I love you through the night
But now you're awake, Christmas isn't right

Oh, star of wisdom
Light of life, light of life
Casperous prism
Bride of life, bride of life

Disappointment to be had
Hold your temper too, my friend
Where will you go, where will you go, where will you go?
Troubled heart, troubled heart, here with all

Track Name: Sister Winter

Oh my friends I've
Begun to worry right
Where I should be grateful
I should be satisfied

Oh my heart I
Would clap and dance in place
With my friends I have so
Much pleasure to embrace

But my heart is
Returned to sister winter
But my heart is
As cold as ice

Oh my thoughts I
Return to summertime
When I kissed your ankle
I kissed you through the night

All my gifts I gave everything you
Your strange imagination
You threw it all away

Now my heart is
Returned to sister winter
Now my heart is
As cold as ice

All my friends, I've
Returned to sister winter
All my friends, I
Apologise, apologise

All my friends, I've
Returned to sister winter
All my friends, I
Apologise, apologise

All my friends, I've
Returned to sister winter
All my friends, I
Apologise, apologise

La la la la la . . .

And my friends, I've
Returned to wish you all the best
And my friends, I've
Returned to wish you all the best
And my friends, I've
Returned to wish you all the best
And my friends, I've
Returned to wish you a happy Christmas

To wish you a happy Christmas
To wish you a happy Christmas
To wish you a happy Christmas